Hardware & Devices

Hello all, I'm creating a software called nuclearBoot which, removes the operating system and an option for the user to keep his/her documents or include them in the process as well for erasing sensitive information and data, basically wiping the HDD completely clear, my question is how do you overwrite and delete a file using a driver? And how to tell what the operating system is?

Also, I've heard online, that if the hardware in the computer is bad, it will result in a kernel panic, while bootstrapping and activating a HDD clearing software. So any questions on how to make the software still do it's job, even though the hardware is bad or avoid a kernel panic or any other generic fatal error?

You would probably need to read the file tables from which you can get information about which sectors a specific file occupies. This information is proprietary to each file system type, NTFS etc: Google will find you lots of references.

Brandon T. H. wrote:

And how to tell what the operating system is?

You will already know this as your driver will need to be customised to each OS.

Brandon T. H. wrote:

I've heard online, that if the hardware in the computer is bad, it will result in a kernel panic,

That may or may not happen depending on what your driver and the OS are trying to do with the hardware.

Brandon T. H. wrote:

how to make the software still do it's job, even though the hardware is bad or avoid a kernel panic or any other generic fatal error?

Probably you need to trap all contingencies and make a decision what to do about them. For example, if your driver is writing to a disk and the system reports an error, you may need to make a note of where the error occurred and avoid that disk address in future. I am not sure how much of this information existing drivers will pass back to you, but most OSes give drivers the option to recover from hard errors. Again you would need to consult the driver documentation for the specific OS.

So I little while ago, someone forcefully yanked the Ethernet cord (that blue wire) that connects to my router/modem, and after that happened, my Ethernet cord does not "snap-in," like, my cord just slides out very easy, all it takes is a little jerk or shake on my desk and the whole thing dis-connects from my computer PC, and I don't get internet, and I always have to check to see if it's connected on my computer by looking at my notification area (I have Microsoft Windows: 7, Home Premium), and by hand push it in a little to see if it's connected. The only way to guarantee a stable (non-disconnecting) connection, is wirelessly, the reason I prefer cable, is that it's 10x faster.

Replace the cable. It's wires are possibly ripped out of the connector even if it looks like they haven't been.

If, after that, it still doesn't work, you may have a damaged enternet connector, in which case you either better be real good with a soldering iron and replace that connector or (FAR, FAR more likely) replace the device that the cable was yanked out of, which by your pictures appears to be the motherboard of a laptop.

It's unlikely that this damaged your Ethernet card; they're pretty sturdy. More likely the detent tab on the RJ-45 connector of your cable has been snapped off, or bent beyond its elastic limit. Replace the cable and carry on. They're cheap these days...

The clip on the cable locks into place behind the metal bezel of the socket - if the cable is pulled out forcefully, it can bend the edges of the metal bezel out of shape - if the edges have not been snapped off, you can often push them back into place with the blade of a small screwdriver.

OK I got the Inspiron One limping along with Windows 7.
Like the Inspiron, less clutter on my desk, but don't like Windows 7 and would like to replace Windows 7 with XP.
Will Inspiron work with me?
There seems to be two independent boot sources – one with Dell and another with Windows ( Setup).
Ideally I like to boot to external USB drive using Dell's boot. I don't think XP will boot using USB.
Or should I just yank the internal SATA out and replace it with XP OS?
I like to keep the Windows 7 for future testing of my programs but I am happy developing in XP.
Any comments to the point will be appreciated.
Any legal comments or innuendos will be cheerfully ignored.
Vaclav

Well, I can tell you the support for XP (security patches and whatnot) ends in April 2014 (or somewhere close to that). That means no support AT ALL. Got a virus? Tough!

No, AFAIK, XP won't boot from a USB device.

Frankly, you're doing yourself a HUGE diservice by developing on XP insead of Windows 7. Why? Because Windows 7 does a better job of enforcing application developement best practices, such as preventing users from writing to anywhere under Program Files. This is especially true as XP support dies and your market for Windows 7 and 8 rises dramatically. You also get far better penetration of 64-bit Windows with 7 and 8 over XP.

Thanks, appreciate your quick reply.
Since I got the Inspiron running it seems that Windows 7 is updated with "security" stuff almost daily. Not a good feeling.
It seems to do stuff in background , but the worst part was it just did not wanted to boot or finish running "check disk".
I am still not sure if the HDD is OK, I'll run a real check on it when I find it in the OS.
As far as having OS "enforcing development", common, you must be kidding.
That would be the last "authority" I would rely on. There are plenty of examples why.
Enough said, getting OT.

As far as having OS "enforcing development", common, you must be kidding.

Actually, no. XP lets you do things that are security nightmares on Windows Vista and above. In some cases, UAC must be disabled to get an app to run successfully. I've also run into two apps that won't run correctly under Win 7 XP mode.

Are you saying this is a new machine that has some problems; if so go back to Dell and get them to fix it.

Vaclav_Sal wrote:

and would like to replace Windows 7 with XP.

What on earth for? XP is discontinued and support levels will be dropping fast, especially with 8 coming soon. I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop and it is much faster with Windows 7 that it was with XP.

The “thing” is about 2 years old and was thrown away by frustrated user. It just booted whenever it felt like it. For example it just needed flash drive in USB port to boot at one time! As is. No Dell support after 1 year anyway.
The “speed” is immaterial for me. Actually I like slow compile , time to have cup of java and relax!
It is the constant “updating this and updating that” and the unfamiliar UI I do not like.
I suppose to the new user it is cool, but in comparison with older Windows it is a pain.
There are few inconsistencies - for instance it have some XML text in IE and no Favorites tool bar - I still have not found it, but I ain't looking that hard. Interrupted disk compression( power failure!) and when I finally restarted it it did something (!) but no feedback if it was continuing the compression.
And what up with semitransparent headers in window frame? What for?
I guess if you want “cool” and questionable operation it is OK.
It needs “classic windows” option!
I thing I'll wait till Windows 10 comes up before I abandon XP. Or go for Linux.

I would recommend downloading a virtual machine simulator like, Oracle VM VirtualBox, that allows you to run Windows Xp, on your real/physical computer, so you would be running to operating systems at the same time and do all your testing and/or developing or whatever you seem to be doing that 'seems' to be best on a Windows Xp Os, except Windows Xp is in it's own separate window and Windows 7 (your default Os) is running at full-screen, please note though once you download it, the program has the option to allow you run the virtual or separate Os in full-screen, overlaying your default one that's already running.

Or you could put Windows Xp as a completely separate Os on the same hard drive as Windows 7, but beware as you might have a very hard time because I heard from talks online about this that "they made Windows 7 to where if you download Windows Xp, Windows Xp won't install because of a serial key invalidation for every security key."

Oracle VM VirtualBox has a lot more features, and is a lot more user friendly, plus it's open-source, you can add on to it, plus it failed to install on my PC, but Oracle is on there and it works pretty good and just fine.

Thanks for the info.
Since my initial exposure to Win 7 give me the impression that it is doing stuff to recover from some hard drive problem, it kept rebooting and eventually started at random, I think you are right about potential effect on the Win 7 if I attempt to add XP to the HDD even as virtual XP. I think I will just try to install HDD with XP on it.( Want to see the innards of Inspiron anyway!)
I would be curious if Win 7 is user friendly to do dual boot with Linux, but I guess I need to try that in the future.
I still do not get how Dell's boot setup and OS setup interact.
Back to C++ programming.

Like most manufacturers they create their own customized image, under licence from Microsoft, and install it on all their PCs. If you have problems with it then you should always go to Dell first for help. If you modify the setup or install your own purchased version of Windows on the system then Dell are no longer responsible for what happens. However, I have had three Dell systems and replaced the Dell image with later OSes on two of them without any problems.

Press the [F12] or [F8] key, either of the two, should bring up the boot menu, so that you can load or should I say bootstrap the Windows Xp setup installer into your computer's memory. If you have just the setup of Windows Xp on a CD or DVD without anything else on it, then it should say "Press any key to boot from CD...", or similar to that, if you followed those steps and loaded it, if so then press the space bar when that happens, and it should be pretty self-explanatory after that.

You can use a Windows 7 Repair-CD and browse for any hard drives, and modify the Dell setup image, so that it doesn't install any bloatware.